Brady Hoke

Next to abysmal defense, the next worst area of performance for Michigan football teams has come from Special Teams.  This is not just a recent phenomenon; special teams debacles have haunted Michigan for years.  Will Brady Hoke change this tradition?

Year    Team                        Phil Steel ST rank

2010  San Diego State      109

2009  San Diego State        94

2008  Ball State                    48

2008  Ball State                    17

2007  Ball State                    50

2006  Ball State                    28

2005  Ball State                    65

2004  Ball State                  114

2003  Ball State                     97

This seems to be lot like the Brady Hoke resume - a couple of good years among a sea of mediocrity (or worse).   Hopefully, there will be more of an emphasis on special teams, but then again, hope is not a strategy.

Where is Brady Hoke beginning his 2011 recruiting journey of biblical proportions today?

Since the Domino's plane was a ruse during the CC, maybe he's on the Little Caesar's jet?

Thanks to the magic of YouTube, Fred Flintstone is now a Saturday morning cartoon. Should hopefully have 2010 Denard highlights up today.

The University of Michigan claims to be the leaders and best. Whether it be in the classroom or on the football field the U of M strives for excellence. From the most wins all time, to the hightest winning percentage, to the largest stadium in the country the University of Michigan has staked its claim in the college football world. The football program, however, has failed to evolve with the ever changing college football climate, and nothing proves this more than the hiring of Brady Hoke. This hiring is more a triumph of mediocrity than the pursuit of excellence.

The Bowl Championship Series has forever changed the college football landscape. No longer is it good enough to win the Big Ten and defeat a good team in the Rose Bowl. Now, in order to be called the champions, you must defeat another excellent team - the best of the best if you will. Does this mean that every championship prior to the BCS is worthless? Certainly not, but the method to be considered the champion has changed. In the 13 years of the BCS, Michigan has failed to recognize this change of culture. Sure, Michigan has won their share of Big Ten titles in the BCS era, but they have consistently failed to compete when going up against elite competition in BCS bowl games.

Three years ago, it seemed like the Michigan fanbase had come to recognize that a paradigm shift was necessary with regards to our football program. In other words, we were ready to stop throwing rock on first, second and third down. The fanbase clammored for change and a change was made. We dipped our toe in waters of chage, and many found that it was to cold or to uncomfortable. Instead of being the leaders and best, we have opted for the saftey of the past and the comfort of what was familiar.

Winning the Big Ten championship isn't enough anymore. Or at least it shouldn't be if we consider ourselves the "leaders and best". That is the old way of thinking, and it clearly has not been working in the BCS era. I have no doubt that the current coaching staff can stabilize the program and bring it back to where it was under Lloyd Carr. I am confident they can lead the program to Big Ten championships and even win a bowl game every now and then. But I want more. I expect more. This university and its fans should demand more.

Please don't misinterpret the point I am trying to make here. I don't believe that we should play in the BCS championship game every season. Programs have good years and bad years, injuries take their toll on every team, and sometimes you just aren't lucky. But, there is no reason why the Universy of Michigan cannot compete with the best teams in the country on a consistent basis.

Just a quick question for TomVH and others that might know -

Rich Rodriguez established a preferred walk-on program at Michigan which had a number of players added to UM's roster over the last few years.   I'm a firm believer that walk-ons can be very good contributors, as they have been at places like Nebraska, Stanford, and other schools.

Do we know whether this "preferred walk-on" program might continue under Hoke?

There are a few players that were/are coming to Michigan with that understanding, such as Traverse City fullback Joey Kerridge. Keeping a No. 16 ranked fullback coming to Michigan would be a good thing, I would think, given Borges'/Hoke's love affair with battering ram ISO plays not to mention an extra blockeror safety valve receiver on play action passes, etc.   (Hello waggle pass to FB in the flat!...and touchdown!! Where have you been?)

I'm hoping this walkon program or a derivative thereof can continue at Michigan, especially if Hoke wants to sink the roots in deeper with H.S. coaches and players in the state of Michigan.

Thoughts?

Just how in the heck are we, as Michigan fans, supposed to type Brady in a post on this forum and think of that as a FIRST name? Clearly, either Hoke or Tom Brady are going to have to change their names.